Lesson 2.

Solving Quadratic
Inequalities
 Learning Competency

At the end of the lesson, the learners should be able

to solve quadratic inequalities (M9AL-If-2).
 Objectives

At the end of this lesson, the learners should be able to

do the following:

● Determine the critical values for a given quadratic

inequality.
● Solve for the solution set of a quadratic inequality.
● Write the solutions of quadratic inequalities into set
and interval notation.
Are you a fan of baseball?
It is amazing to see how people
can hit a small ball that travels
very fast.

Batters train a lot for them to hit

these balls accurately using their
bat. At the same time, pitchers
also train so that they can throw
these balls fast enough that the
batters cannot hit the ball.
Did you know that the trajectory and the travel time of the ball
can be calculated using quadratic inequalities? Using this
concept, you can determine how long a ball can travel given
specific conditions.

In this lesson, we will learn how to solve quadratic inequalities

and apply its concept in real-life situations.
 Essential Questions

● How will you determine the critical numbers for a

quadratic inequality?

● How will you solve for the solution set of a quadratic

inequality?
 Learn about It!

Critical Numbers

Critical numbers are the solutions of the corresponding

quadratic equation of the quadratic inequality.
 Learn about It!

Critical Numbers

Example:
Given . The corresponding quadratic equation is . The
solutions of this quadratic equation are
and .

Thus, the critical numbers of the inequality are and .

 Learn about It!

Test Intervals

Test intervals are the intervals into which the critical numbers
divide the real number line.
 Learn about It!

Test Intervals

Example:
Let and be the critical numbers of a quadratic inequality
where . The test intervals are as follows:
a. or in interval notation
b. or in interval notation
c. or in interval notation
 Learn about It!

Test Intervals

Example:
Note that parentheses are used in each interval notation to
indicate that the critical numbers are not part of the solution
set; if they are, we will use brackets.
 Learn about It!

Test Numbers

Test numbers are any number taken from the test intervals
and are substituted to the quadratic inequality to determine if
the interval is a solution or not.
 Learn about It!

Test Numbers

Example:
Given and as the critical numbers of , the test numbers in
each interval are as follows:
a. For , the test number can be those numbers less than ,
such as , , , etc.
 Learn about It!

Test Numbers

Example:
Given and as the critical numbers of , the test numbers in
each interval are as follows:
b. For , the test number can be those numbers greater
than but less than , such as , , , , and .
 Learn about It!

Test Numbers

Example:
Given 2 and 8 as the critical numbers of , the test numbers in
each interval are as follows:
c. For , the test number can be those numbers greater
than , such as , , , etc.
 Learn about It!

Test Numbers

However, if the quadratic inequality has no critical numbers

(no real roots), there will be no test interval. In this case, the
test number could be chosen from any set of real numbers,
and the solution could only be null set or the set of real
numbers .
 Try it!Practice
Let’s

Example 1: What are the critical numbers for ?

 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 1: What are the critical numbers for ?

Solution:
1. Treat the inequality as a quadratic equation.
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 1: What are the critical numbers for ?

Solution:
2. Solve the quadratic equation, using any applicable method,
to get the critical numbers.

In this case, let us factor the quadratic equation to determine

its critical numbers.
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 1: What are the critical numbers for ?

Solution:
2. Solve the quadratic equation, using any applicable method,
to get the critical numbers.
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 1: What are the critical numbers for ?

Solution:
2. Solve the quadratic equation, using any applicable method,
to get the critical numbers.
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 1: What are the critical numbers for ?

Solution:
Therefore, the critical numbers for the given inequality are
and .
 Try it!Practice
Let’s

Example 2: Find values of for which .

 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 2: Find values of for which .

Solution:
1. Transform the quadratic inequality to standard form.
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 2: Find values of for which .

Solution:
2. Treat the inequality as a quadratic equation to find its
critical numbers.
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 2: Find values of for which .

Solution:
3. Solve the quadratic equation to get the critical numbers.

Since the expression is not factorable, we can use the

quadratic formula.
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 2: Find values of for which .

Solution:
3. Solve the quadratic equation to get the critical numbers.
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 2: Find values of for which .

Solution:
3. Solve the quadratic equation to get the critical numbers.
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 2: Find values of for which .

Solution:
3. Solve the quadratic equation to get the critical numbers.

The quadratic equation has no real roots because of .

Therefore, there are no critical numbers.
 
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 2: Find values of for which .

Solution:
3. Solve the quadratic equation to get the critical numbers.

Since the quadratic equation has no critical numbers, the test

number could be chosen from the set of real numbers. For
convenience, choose .
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 2: Find values of for which .

Solution:
4. Substitute the test number to the quadratic equation
inequality.
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 2: Find values of for which .

Solution:
Since the test number makes the inequality true, the solution
to the given inequality is the set of real numbers.
 
Set notation:
Interval notation:
 Try It!

Individual Practice:
1. Determine the critical numbers for .

2. Find values of that will satisfy .

 Try It!

Group Practice: To be done in groups of two to five.

Solve for :
 Key Points

● The critical numbers are the solutions of the

corresponding quadratic equation of the quadratic
inequality.
● The test intervals are the intervals into which the critical
numbers divide the real number line.
● The test numbers are any number taken from the test
intervals and are substituted to the quadratic inequality to
determine if the interval is a solution or not.
 Bibliography

Stapel, Elizabeth. “Solving Quadratic Inequalities: Concepts.” Purplemath. Retrieved 18 February 2019
from https://www.purplemath.com/modules/ineqquad.htm

Saylor Academy. “6.5 Solving Quadratic Inequalities.” Retrieved 6 March 2019 from https://bit.ly/2Unc5jV